By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
Red Ledges, of Heber City, Utah, has earned a spot on our Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) Top 50 Private Facilities list every year since we started recognizing these stellar clubs back in 2012. The exceptional Red Ledges amenities are available to its 450 golf members and 300 additional lifestyle members, each of whom has satisfied the prerequisite of property ownership at Red Ledges.
Red Ledges opened its doors in 2009, and Jon Paupore, the current PGA of America Director of Golf and Director of Instruction has been there since day one. Paupore hails from Detroit and played four years of collegiate golf at Eastern Michigan University, earning All-American honors on two occasions. He took his shot at playing professionally before accepting a job at The Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Florida where he worked his way up to Head Golf Professional.
“Jack (Nicklaus) was my link to Utah since he designed the course here at Red Ledges,” Paupore explains.
The range at Red Ledges has about 4,000 sq. ft. of bent grass tee space. “We can move the tee stands around quite frequently to ensure there’s always adequate grass to hit from,” Paupore says.
There’s a huge putting green and an additional chipping green with four practice bunkers surrounding both that enable Red Ledges’ members to get a lot of practice time. In addition, there’s a golf school building on the range that has two hitting bays that open up to the range and an indoor simulator, as well. With Trackman, two Foresight Sports GCQuads, BodiTrak and JC Video, Red Ledges offers the unbeatable combination of expert PGA of America Golf Professionals, two facility owners who strive to provide their members with an unforgettable experience every time they’re on the property and technology that helps golfers hone their skills and gain more enjoyment from the game.
Members seeking a better golf game are fortunate to have the Jim McLean Golf School right at their fingertips. Rated as the #1 golf school in the country, McLean gets results thanks to his extensive expertise and the top-notch teachers and coaches he hires across his multiple academy locations.
Red Ledges has an equestrian center, Cliff Drysdale Tennis School, skiing, hiking and biking trails, a state-of-the-art wellness center, a huge swimming pool for family fun, multiple dining venues and the Nicklaus-designed 18-hole championship golf course.
Also, Red Ledges has a 12-hole Par 3 layout that is great for kids, beginners, ladies, golfers on a deadline and any member seeking a fun and social experience in a park-like golf setting.
In addition to Paupore, the Red Ledges golf staff includes Derek Butts, PGA of America Head Golf Professional; JR Cummings, PGA of America Head Golf Professional in charge of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Park; John Johnson, one of 2,200 PGA of America General Managers in the country; two PGA Assistants in Alex Bennington and Nathan Olson and one PGA Associate Assistant Professional in Ryan Smith.
With the many amenities and options laid out as we have here, it’s very clear to see why Red Ledges is a perennial GRAA award winner.
